Overlapping Spectrums: Examining the Meaning-Making of Gender Diverse Autistic Adults Using a Participatory Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Approach

dc.contributor.advisorMcCrimmon, Adam
dc.contributor.authorYule, Ashleigh Erin
dc.contributor.committeememberBlair, Karen
dc.contributor.committeememberNelson, Fiona
dc.contributor.committeememberCallaghan, Tonya
dc.contributor.committeememberZwiers, Michael
dc.date2021-06
dc.date.accessioned2021-05-11T18:37:05Z
dc.date.available2021-05-11T18:37:05Z
dc.date.issued2021-05-03
dc.description.abstractThe overlap of gender diversity and autism has received scant research attention to date, especially in terms of the lived experiences of transgender autistic individuals themselves. Indeed, until very recently, the voices of individuals who experience diversity within the gender and autism spectrums have seldom been present in the research literature. Self-advocates within the autism and transgender community note that “rejecting the reality of trans autistic people’s gender identities can be dangerous, even life threatening” (ASAN, 2016b, p. 1). As such, there is a clear need to better understand individuals’ lived experiences and interpretations of gender diversity, autism, and related barriers. To this end, this research project used an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach (Smith, Flowers, & Larkin, 2009) to facilitate a more nuanced and in-depth understanding how transgender autistic individuals make meaning of gender, autism, and the related barriers and strengths they encounter. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with nine transgender autistic adults and transcripts were analyzed using an IPA framework. Results demonstrated rich emergent themes related to each participant’s individual experiences, which developed in the analyses into three wide-ranging superordinate themes: (1) Questioning, knowing; (2) Sharing myself, seeking support; and (3) Complexities and connections. Each of these themes integrated robustly with contemporary research and clinical practice in the field of gender diversity and neurodiversity, including acknowledging the overlap, reducing barriers in pathways to care, honouring the expertise of lived experience, building knowledge and capacity, understanding dating and relationships, re-examining what is assumed about gender differences, and shifting the narrative to a less deficit-based, more diversity-focused dialogue. This study generated new knowledge related to the meaning transgender autistic individuals make of their lived experiences. It sought to incorporate questions and findings that are practical, meaningful, and relevant for gender diverse neurodiverse individuals themselves, as well as for their cisgender allistic (non-autistic) allies. As such, this project has the potential to positively impact the health and wellbeing of gender diverse neurodiverse individuals and to amplify the trans autistic perspectives that have often been excluded in the research to date.en_US
dc.identifier.citationYule, A. E. (2021). Overlapping Spectrums: Examining the Meaning-Making of Gender Diverse Autistic Adults Using a Participatory Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Approach (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.en_US
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/38852
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/113398
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisher.facultyWerklund School of Educationen_US
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgaryen
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.en_US
dc.subjectgender diversityen_US
dc.subjectneurodiversityen_US
dc.subjecttransgenderen_US
dc.subjectautismen_US
dc.subjectinterpretative phenomenological analysisen_US
dc.subject.classificationEducational Psychologyen_US
dc.subject.classificationPsychology--Clinicalen_US
dc.subject.classificationPsychology--Developmentalen_US
dc.titleOverlapping Spectrums: Examining the Meaning-Making of Gender Diverse Autistic Adults Using a Participatory Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Approachen_US
dc.typedoctoral thesisen_US
thesis.degree.disciplineApplied Psychologyen_US
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgaryen_US
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopytrueen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
ucalgary_2021_yule_ashleigh.pdf
Size:
1.01 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
2.62 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: